The board asked Mayor Michael Harakal Jr. to find out how often the police department responds to calls at the gas station and report on the finding at the April 8 meeting, when commissioners are scheduled to vote on the transfer.

The board also discussed a bill to hire Triad Strategies, Harrisburg, to pursue government funding for the emergency services building and other township projects at a cost of $5,000 a month.

Harakal said the firm “has been successful in getting money for projects” and would also help the township with grant writing.

The board is also considering a noise ordinance that would restrict unnecessary noise between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Board Secretary Thomas Slonaker noted there is “always a certain ambiguity” when dealing with noise issues.

Board member Jeffrey Warren agreed, saying, “I see this as a problem when it is a nuisance or something that is recurring.”

Vice President Philip Ginder said the township police had recommended the ordinance as something that had “teeth” and would let them do something if a noise problem persisted.

In other business, the board discussed a resolution that would have the township enter into a sidewalk maintenance agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the Cementon-Northampton Bridge.

Harakal said the sidewalks will be jointly maintained by Northampton Borough and Whitehall Township. He said the township had little choice but to enter into the maintenance agreement.

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“PennDOT said it would not put in sidewalks if we don’t agree to maintain them,” he noted. “It is a bitter pill.”

Warren said the sidewalks will be 10-feet-wide multimodal sidewalks that would allow for pedestrians and bicycles.

The board also will consider purchases of a 2020 Mack dump truck cab and chassis for the public works department for $116,000 and a 2019 Caterpillar Model 930M wheel loader for $170,000. Deputy Mayor John Meyers told the board a state recycling grant would pay for half the cost of the Caterpillar.

The next board meeting is 7 p.m. April 8 at the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road.